It's Time

There is a little story “hidden” in the Bible that is often overlooked. It is the story in the book of Acts about Ananias and Sapphira. This story is so important because it shows us how the early church viewed women (even married women) and their role of personal responsibility.
Too often the concept of “submission” has been used to coerce women into silence and a rejection of personal responsibility in their sphere of influence and authority. This Bible passage, however, reveals that women are completely and personally responsible for decisions and information about which they have full knowledge. This story de-bunks the notion that a woman is not responsible for actions taken (by her husband) but with her full knowledge. If a woman is aware of an action, it becomes her responsibility, even if it is her husbands “doing.” A woman is not absolved of responsibility simply because she is following the “orders” or “wishes” of her husband. She is personally responsible to speak and represent the truth and to do right according to her knowledge regardless of the actions of her husband.

This is revolutionary! Too many women have been sadly deceived and coerced into silence or have silently allowed wrong behavior to continue because they believe that they honored God by their “submission” to their husband. But “submission” does not mean silence in the face of wrongdoing! The case of Ananias and Sapphira shows us that the early church did not expect a woman to just silently represent her husband and his wishes. The early apostles held a woman equally responsible for decisions made within her marriage with her full knowledge.

This news may be alarming to some women, who thought they were “safe” from “judgment” if they just followed their husbands instructions. But God calls a woman to be a man’s partner and mate, not simply his “Yes” woman, employee or servant. A “mate”—means an equal ally, one suited and matched for him. When you match/mate things (socks for example) you match those of equal kinds. The early church actually expected women to be co-responsible for co-decisions in marriage. It was not a responsibility that could be “sloughed off” on a husband. This may be liberating to some women. If women are responsible for decisions made with their knowledge, then they have some influence over those decisions. With responsibility comes influence and choice. Women have a voice recognized by God and scripture. They not only can voice their opinion, they should.
In Acts, Chapter Five, Ananias makes a financial decision (he sells property) together with his wife. With her full knowledge, her keeps back part of the proceeds, but offers the balance to the apostles under the pretense that it is the full amount of the sale. Peter rebukes him, saying (basically) “Why did you lie? The property was yours to do whatever you wanted with it. But the lie was before God, not men.” Ananias immediately dies.
Wow.
Sapphira, his wife, enters. The apostles do not tell her that her husband has died. For all she knows he is alive and well. Yet, they ask her if she and her husband gave the full price of the land that she and her husband sold. (Notice they recognized the land belonged to both and that both sold it and gave money to the apostles.) They gave her a chance to tell the truth, yet she also lies and says that “Yes, the amount given was the full price.” Peter asks her “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?”
Peter recognizes that Sapphira had a choice to agree to her husbands plan or to say, “No” and speak the truth. When she chose to agree with her husband, rather than tell the truth, she also immediately dies.
But she could have said “N0” —– She should have said, “No. No I will not tell a lie to the apostles. I will not sell the land and pretend to give the full amount.” Or she could have said “No. What we gave was not the full amount.” Simple as that. Sapphira could have refused to collaborate in a lie or she could have refused to tell the lie—in agreement with her husband.
The Bible and the early apostles held her completely responsible for her own actions. Sapphira was completely responsible to agree with her husband and DIE—or to speak and act the truth (regardless of her husbands speech or actions) and live. Wow. It is not enough for a woman to say “I serve God by obeying my husband” if what her husband does/says is wrong. If anyone stands in agreement with wrongdoing……then they are wrong. Male or female, Jew or Greek, slave or free (Galations 3:28) Each one is responsible for his own actions. That is both awe-inspiring and liberating. Not only should women not live in fear and anguish over assenting (even silently) to wrong behavior, they have a responsibility to speak the truth and to do right before God, regardless of their husbands choice. That is what is portrayed in the Bible. There is no excuse for lying in agreement with husbands. And there is every expectation of and support for a woman to speak and act in what is right regardless of her husbands choices. That is the little known story of Ananias and Sapphira.

“For such a time as this”

We have all heard the quotation. Maybe we have recited it ourselves. We have seen it on plaques and notecards. We have heard it in inspirational messages.

“For such a time as this”

This is your time. This is your hour. Who knows but that you were born for such a time as this? This is your moment.

But how did you get here? How did it happen? What was the spark? What came before this moment in time? How did we get to this place? Or perhaps we should ask who made it happen? Who opened the door to this moment?

Do we ask those questions? Or do we think things just happen by chance? Are all the grand moments in time just a lucky accident?

I don’t think so.

I believe that quite a lot of important things happen behind the scenes. Like all the preparation that goes into a lovely holiday meal or celebration. Weeks of preparation go into most important events. Weeks, months, even years.

“For such a time as this”

Those words were spoken to Queen Esther in the Bible. She was a young Queen. She had been chosen to “replace” the former Queen Vashti who had fallen out of favor with the King.

She was a young Jewish woman and an official in the court (unaware that the new Queen was Jewish) had designed a plan to slaughter all Jewish people. Her cousin informed her of the plan and the danger to all Jewish people and petitioned her to approach the King and plead for the lives of her people.

“And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”

However, there was a small problem. In that kingdom, no one was allowed to approach the King in his chamber uninvited. Esther had not been summoned to the King’s presence in over a month. If she approached the King uninvited she would be put to death, unless he extended his “golden scepter” to spare her life.  Esther was in a position to address the King, but only at his invitation or at the risk of her life.

What should she do? As the queen she would probably be safe from destruction herself. If she revealed her heritage she may risk her own life and perish with her people. Or, she may perish simply by “breaking the rules” and approaching the king uninvited.

What should she do?

“For such a time as this…..”

Her cousin warns her “If you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)

“For such a time as this……..”

What to do? What to do?

Esther decides to fast and pray for three days and nights along with her maids, her cousin, and all the Jews of the land. Then, she says, she will approach the king, “I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16)

So Esther fasted and prayed. Her cousin and the people fasted and prayed. And Esther approached the King. And the King extended his scepter! Through a process of circumstance, the King heard Esther’s requests, responded to her petitions, and her people were saved. Esther became the means of salvation and deliverance to the Jewish people. It is a tale of courage and strength and bravery. Esther was a true heroine. She really was “in the right place at the right time” and she did the right thing. She risked her life to save her people.

“For such a time as this……”

But how did she get there? How did she step in to the right place and the right time? As in most heroic tales, there is often a “story behind the story” Someone sets the stage for a true hero to walk into the spotlight. Who set the stage for Esther?

There is someone in the shadows. Someone else paid a price to open the door for Esther to walk through. Someone else set the stage for “such a time as this”

There was another queen. Her name was Vashti. We meet her only briefly in the first Chapter. But she too, is a heroine.

We don’t know that much about her. She was the Queen to Xerxes during the third year of his reign when he threw a lavish six month “show and tell” party for all of the surrounding nobles to celebrate the vastness of his wealth and the splendor of his kingdom. He celebrated and exulted in the greatness of his realm. He finished off this season of celebration (and self-exultation) with a week-long, elaborate, drunken bash. Towards the end of the party, he summoned his queen  Vashti (who was hosting her own party for all the noble wives) to come and display herself for the pleasure of his all-male guests.

And she said “No”

And that is all we know. We don’t know if this was a common occurrence. We don’t know if she had done this before and suddenly decided to refuse. All we really know is that at this time, at this place, she decided not to be an object to be oogled.

She said “No”

She didn’t complain or picket or start a campaign. She didn’t cajole and petition or plead or beg.

She just said “No”

And the King was enraged.

And his advisors were afraid.

Because she said “No”

What if more women said “No”? What if their wives said “No”? What would become of the kingdom if women said “No”?

Let me be very clear. The Bible tells stories. And the Bible gives commentary during the stories. The Bible never says that Vashti was wrong. Never. It only says that the King was enraged, and the nobles were threatened and fearful and they said that Vashti was wrong. But the Bible, the words of the story never say that she was wrong.

The Bible just says “When attendants delivered the king’s command, Queen Vashti refused to come” She said “No” She refused to enter the King’s presence to be oogled at by his guests.

We know nothing of her history or her motives. We only know that

She said “No”

And all hell broke loose. The King’s advisors suggested that the Queen be banished from the King’s presence forever. The other nobles and princes were pleased with this idea. And so she was. Forever.

And that is all we know.

She made a choice. She took a stand. And she lost everything in a way. She lost her position and her husband and any further record of her life.

Because she said “No”

It is not easy to say “No” to people in power. There is often a price to pay to say “no” to a domineering personality.

But I have to wonder, did Vashti sleep better that night? Did she live in regret for what she lost or did she live in confidence for what she had gained. I think she gained her self-respect in that moment. And I believe that she set the stage for another young woman down the road.

Because she said “No”

“No, she would not obey the decree”

“No, she would not appear before the King”

“No, she would not do what was asked”

She said “No”

And she paved the way for a woman to come after her to also say “No”

The story goes on to tell us that “Later, when the anger of the King subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what he had decreed about her”

What did he remember? Did he miss her? Did he wish he had not been so rash? Did he regret the loss of her presence?

I think he did, for the story continues to say “Then the Kings personal attendants proposed, ‘Let a search be made…..for a new queen’” The attendants saw there was a problem, they saw the King remembering (and regretting?) his actions and so they proposed a solution…..find a new queen. So they did. Through a lengthy process, Esther was found and we follow the story of her selection and coronation until she comes to the crossroads to decide what to do

“For such a time as this…….”

Her people are in peril. Only she can save them. But to do so, she must break the rules, disobey the command and enter the King’s presence. Do you notice a similarity there? Vashti broke the rules and refused to approach the King and was banished. Now Esther breaks the rules, appears before the King uninvited and risks death.

Do you think the King paused for a moment and considered his choices? How dare she defy the decrees of the kingdom? How dare she enter his presence uninvited? But then again, he had already lost one queen who did not “come when she was called” Did he want to lose the next one was comes when she wasn’t called? Same King. Same rules.

Will he lose another queen? Or will he extend the golden scepter?

He extends the scepter and Esther walks into “such a time as this” and saves her people from annihilation.

What of Vashti?

We do not know. All we know is that she said “No.” She says “No” and her story ends. But she paves the way for her successor. Heroines rarely walk alone. Someone has gone before them down a lonely path. Someone sets the stage

“For such a time as this……”

Someone always sacrifices their life and their story and suffers loss in order to pave the way for their daughters to have a different story, a story of courage and victory.

Vashti is the heroine in the shadows. But she is there. And without her Esther’s story may have been very different. Esther and all her people may have perished with one glance of rejection from the King. But Vashti’s refusal had given him pause. Perhaps he was not quite so arrogant. Perhaps he harbored a measure of regret. We do not know. All we know is in a very similar situation, the King made a different choice. And Esther and all of her people were saved and flourished.

“For such a time as this”

There are Vashti’s now. There are women living in situations where they need to say “No” now. There are Vashti’s in our time. There are wives and mothers and sisters and granddaughters who need to stand up and say “No” Maybe it is scary. Maybe they risk losing their families, their homes, or their positions. Maybe they need to say “No, I will not be silent” or simply “No, I will not do that, not anymore”

They may be scared. They probably have a lot to lose. But they may not realize what they have to gain. They can stop the cycle. They can change history.  They can say “No” and set the stage for freedom and deliverance for all those who may follow in their wake.

There are women who need to say “No” to their husbands or fathers or to their brothers or grandfathers or stepfathers. “No I will not. Not anymore.” “Not here, not in this home, or not with me” They may be scared, but they need to refuse and they need to do so publicly so that others can see and hear and know and take courage from their actions. “For such a time as this.” Because this world does not change just because someone was at the right place at the right time. It often takes someone else to pay the price to create the opportunity. Someone has to open the door. Someone has to say “No.” Even if they think it will matter to no one else in the world, there are women out there who need to “break the rules” and not allow themselves to be demeaned, abused and used. Or they need to not allow their children to be abused. They may be scared and frightened of the future. They need to know that their “No” will mean freedom and deliverance for not only themselves, but for others. Even if it costs them their position and homes, they must say “No” to what is wrong and brave the King’s wrath and rage in order to change history and destiny. The Vashti’s of today need to be someone else’s hero.

Did you know that it takes a lot more courage to say “No” than to…..

perform as expected

 just give in

go with the flow

obey the rules

listen to reason

acquiesce

play it safe

keep the peace

not make waves

do what you are told.

It takes strength and courage and tremendous bravery to say “No” to an accepted pattern and take a stand against injustice. It is a lonely, difficult, challenging task to stand against a force more naturally powerful than yourself and say, “No”

But the world is changed by people who say “No” to injustice and refuse to participate in evil.

And God himself will strengthen those who say “No” to what is wrong. Regardless of the odds, He strengthens them before their foes. Always .

It does not matter if you have “always” stood for what is right, or if you have a sudden change of heart and mind and decide to take a different course in life. You can change your choices and you can change your life and the course of history if you simply choose to say “No.”

Now is the time for change. Now is the time for a multitude to decide to stand for justice. Now is the time to take a stand, to go against the flow, to withstand the pressure, and to say “No” to what is wrong and to take a stand for what is right.  Today is the day. Today is your day.

You don’t need to become and activist, you don’t to start a campaign, you don’t need to picket, you don’t need to convince anyone of anything, you don’t need to change anyone’s opinion, you don’t need to recruit followers.  All you need to do, is make the choice for yourself and say “No” to what is wrong in your life and begin to say “Yes” to what is right. That is all.

It may feel scary at first. You may feel lonely. Difficult things may happen. It may seem like all hell breaks loose when you take a stand. But make the right choice and soon, the world will stand with you, because light is greater than darkness, and goodness is stronger than evil and will prevail.  When someone stands and says “No” to injustice, it creates the opportunity for right to prevail.  Even if it takes time, you will find that it is the very first “No” that stops injustice in its tracks and begins to reverse the process, and justice can gain a foothold and prevail in the long run.

She said “No” and changed history.

Sixty years ago, Dec 1^st, 1955, Rosa Parks sat on a bus and decided to say “No” when she was told to give up her seat. Was she selfish?  Was she prideful? Was it just for herself that she said “No”? She had given up her seat before, so why not now?

That December day, Rosa realized that she had grown tired of injustice. So, she said “No.” Regardless of the consequences, regardless of laws, threats, and intimidation, she said “No.”

She said “No” and she became a spark that changed the world.

You can say “No” to injustice. You can be a spark that will change the world. You don’t  have to be big. You don’t have to be powerful. You just need to recognize injustice and decide to stand against it and say “No”  —-Say, “No, not today, not here, not now, not anymore”

There is something in your life that only you see and that only you can do something about. You might need strength. You might need courage. But you do not have to go along with the status quo. If it is wrong, you can make a choice. You can decide to stand for what is right. Today. And when you do, you just might look around and find that others are standing with you.